DAWSONVILLE, Ga. – The Dawson County Board of Commissioners will hold the first of two public hearings regarding changes to the Soil Erosion Ordinance required to ensure compliance to state regulations when they hold a regular meeting Thursday, Nov. 2, at 6 p.m. in the Dawson County Government Center, 25 Justice Way in Dawsonville.

A second public hearing is scheduled for Nov. 16. The changes are mostly in the wording of the ordinance and will have minimal impact on the current ordinance.

There will also be a public hearing on an update to the Dawson County Emergency Services Prevention Fee Schedule. The fee schedule imposed by the Fire Marshal’s Office has not been updated since it was approved in 2005. Changes in the fireworks law and additional services now being offered through the Prevention Office require updates.

Commissioners are also expected to vote on:

• A request to apply for the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) K-9 Grant at no cost to the county;
• A SPLOST VI Apparatus Replacement Proposal to approve the lease purchase of fire and emergency equipment, with a maximum annual payment for seven years, not to exceed $75,035.00 at an interest rate of 2.44 percent;
• A second Surplus Asset Disposal List for county vehicles identified as exceeding service life;
• A request by Fleet Maintenance to approve the bid of $70,500 to replace tires on count vehicles and equipment from four individual vendors;
• A request to approve a contract with Indent Electrical Services to provide on-call electrical services;
• A request to approve a contract with Townley Construction Company to provide on-call plumbing services;
• An addendum to the FY18 Legacy Link agreement;
• A county-wide Phone Replacement System;
• The 2018 Payroll and Holiday Calendar;
• The 2018 Board of Commissioners Meeting Schedule;
• A special event alcohol permit application for the Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours event on Nov. 14;
• Consideration of County Manager Contract Renewal.

Fetch Your News is a hyper local news outlet that covers Dawson, Lumpkin, White, Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Union, Towns and Murray counties as well as Cherokee County in N.C. If you would like to follow up-to-date local events in any of those counties, please visit us at FetchYourNews.com

DAWSONVILLE, Ga.  – Denise Ray, of Big Canoe, introduced a program called Isabelle’s Book Club at the Dawson County Board of Commissioners meeting last week designed to help children who have been traumatized by separation from a parent who has been incarcerated.

Ray said, “Keeping a source of books available is crucial to lowering rates of crime and breaking generational crime. That’s where we come in. Through the years I have worked with children of inmates, I’ve found that regardless of their age, the issues are the same: separation, trauma, depression and fear. I do this because these children are an invisible population. They are, sadly, often overlooked”

Isabelle’s Books tries to help children who are at increased risk of dropping out of school, engaging in anti-social behavior and higher levels of truancy, aggression and disruptive behavior due to the incarceration of a parent.

It is estimated that 50 percent of incarcerated juveniles have a parent who has been incarcerated.

​​Statistics show that 16 percent of children who are not reading proficiently by the end of third grade do not graduate from high school.

​​Under-educated individuals are at a severe disadvantage of gainful employment. Books change lives. One of the biggest obstacles to literacy is the scarcity of books in the home; two-thirds of low-income families do not own books.

The books are donated by individuals, schools groups that do book drives, Better World Books and corporate sponsor Barnes and Noble. Ray said Isabelle’s Books has been very fortunate to partner with Barnes & Noble.

The books are placed at detention centers in Dawson, Lumpkin and Forsyth counties. When a child visits a parent who has been incarcerated, they will see a book display and a volunteer who talks to the child’s guardian. With the guardian’s permission, the volunteer gives the child a book or books of their choice.

The books do not have to be returned and they come with tote bags imprinted with college logos to plant the seed of higher education. Kennesaw State, University of North Georgia, Lanier Tech, University of Georgia and the University of Alabama have donated various promotional items.

The objectives are to make reading an enjoyable experience, ensure these children have the resources necessary to continue their individual efforts and offer experiences that celebrate the ability to read and encourage further development of that ability.

Ray said Isabell Books spreads the word via speaking engagements, social media and various local social and civic events.

Isabell’s Books is a 501(c) 3 organization that accepts donations of books and money. All donations are tax deductible. Ray said they are also asking for volunteers.

If you are interested in donating books or cash or volunteering your time, please visit isabelesbookclub.org or call 470-315-2451.

“It’s important to remember that we focus on the children, not the inmate or other parent. They are adults. Their children need extra support, care and love.”